The Libra New Moon falls on Thursday October 19th at 12:11pm PST at 16 degrees of Libra. Libra seeks peace and harmony through diplomacy, tact, and charisma. Sometimes ruthless and strategic beneath the surface, Libra relies on social graces and a gentle engagement with others in order to negotiate and win people over to achieve its visions of peace and justice.

As an air sign, Libra is intellectual and objective, and like its symbol the scales, is able to weigh all sides of a situation. Ruled by Venus (also in Libra right now), Libra has an inherent aesthetic sensibility and deep appreciation for the arts and culture. Libra risks valuing other people and their opinions so much that they may lose their sense of self. Similarly, they may value harmony in relationship to such an extent that they avoid addressing underlying tensions.

However, these Libran downfalls are not likely to be the issue this lunar cycle, because this New Moon opposes Uranus and Eris in Aries, bringing in a disruptive, radical, revolutionary, righteous, truth-bearing, activist, warrior energy. Uranus is the revolutionary, symbolized by Prometheus who stole fire from the Gods and gave it to humanity. Uranus wants freedom and divinity for humans. They have no respect for tradition, diplomacy, authority, gurus, or gods. Uranus says all are equal, and all have access to divine wisdom.

Eris is similarly radical. The story of Eris’ discovery is deeply symbolic of her meaning. The dwarf planet was discovered in 2005, beyond the orbit of Pluto. The discovery of a new planet caused some panic among astronomers, disrupting their vision of the solar system. She is larger than Pluto, so astronomers were faced with the decision to either classify her a as a planet or demote Pluto to a dwarf planet. They chose the later. Those chose throwing out the already marginalized Pluto, in favour of inviting a newcomer to the table.

The parallels to her mythology are striking: because of her disruptive nature, Eris wasn’t invited to the wedding of Paleus and Thetis. In her anger at being unjustly excluded, Eris sent an apple to the party that was intended for The Fairest One. The “fair” ones fought over the apple, and the resulting discord eventually led to the Trojan War, for which Eris was blamed.

Eris symbolizes those who have been excluded, who are righteously angry, who will disrupt the social order and disrespect social graces in order to stand up for herself and her people Eris is the energy that those clinging to their privilege will see as uncouth, irresponsible, naive, violent, dangerous. But Eris knows that disrupting the established order is necessary. Eris know what’s fair. Eris knows that surface harmony isn’t worth preserving when underneath lies injustice, oppression, violence, slavery.

Uranus and Eris make a radical team here to disrupt the status quo, to reveal the deep pain and trauma beneath, to give voice to the oppressed, to empower the disenfranchised. Opposite Libra, the harmony may be upset, but yet harmony is still the intention. The upset is necessary in order to find greater justice and freedom for all. If we stand with Libra in our desire for peace, harmony, and justice, then we must heed Uranus and Eris, we must acknowledge the radical injustice in the systems that are preserved for the sake of a parody of peace.

Uranus and Eris in the sign of Aries offers us all courage. To speak up and demand change to the extent we’ve been oppressed and excluded. To listen, step back, and examine our own privilege to the extent that we have it. To stand as allies to those who face oppression. To keep our warrior gaze fixed on justice, on the world we wish for. To fight for freedom and equality for every human. To value equality, compassion, and care for all--over social graces, custom, tradition, or some semblance of peace that is deeply violent at its roots.

Like the millions of souls who’ve courageously shared their voices to say, me too, there is deep healing in speaking truth, in sharing the pain of violence. It may be uncomfortable for a moment, but in the long run, the willingness to face truth is required if we want better.

How is this energy showing up in your personal life? What do you have to fight for? Where do you need to shake up the established order to give credence to truth and justice? How are you privileged? How are you oppressed? For more insight into what this New Moon means for you, see what house it lands in in your personal astrology chart. If you’re not sure how to do that, sign up for my free course in which I show you how to locate New + Full Moons in your chart.